FREE AIR TIME

March 2000
		Should television networks be required to give free air time to candidates for public office? Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, and Paul Taylor, executive director of the Alliance for Better Campaigns, answer your questions.

Forum introduction Are the networks going to continue to settle for quiz programs? Why should anyone have for nothing something which has value? Why not charge broadcasters a fee for use of the public airwaves, and give the money to the people? How about reducing the number of days per week so there could be a real debate every week or two? Will free air time lower the amount of spending, or will it just mean seeing more of the candidates on the air? Why not mandate a free broadcast channel that airs debates, campaign info, and election coverage?     Online Special: Election 2000 Feb. 22, 2000 Negative campaigning Feb. 1, 2000 The primary press Jan. 12, 2000 Special interest ads Oct. 19, 1999 Campaign finance reform voted down Browse the NewsHour's coverage of the media and politics and campaigns   Alliance for Better Campaigns Federal Communications Commission Radio-Television News Directors Association

John Champagne of San Antonio, Texas, asks: Why not charge broadcasters a fee for use of the public airwaves, and give the money to the people? Citizens could contribute part of their share of the broadcast spectrum wealth toward sponsorship of public forums that offer candidates for office opportunities to express their views.   Paul Taylor responds: Over the years, this approach has been advocated by many people in the public interest community, but the broadcast lobby has steadfastly opposed it, as has Congress.   Barbara Cochran responds: Congress has decided to preserve the future of free over-the-air television by requiring broadcasters to build out facilities for digital broadcasting. Congress decided this was the only way broadcasters could compete with cable, digital broadcast satellite, the Internet and other multi-channel video providers. This buildout will cost broadcasters millions of dollars. To impose a spectrum fee on top of that expense would further diminish their ability to compete and probably hurt the very newsgathering capacity that is intended to serve the public.